Fic: 221B - When a good man goes to war

[anarion]

Title: When a good man goes to war
Words: a 221B has 221 words and ends with a b-word
Rating: PG-13
Pairings : Sherlock/John
Warnings: none
Disclaimer: Not mine.

Summary: ‘365 days of 221Bs’ challenge: a prompt a day, given by atlinmerrick.






Previous 221b: Nobody is perfect


Today's prompt: good

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When a good man goes to war


I’m not a good man.

My moral values are inconsistent at best. I don’t care about most of the things one should or shouldn’t do.

I do what it takes to protect those few that I love. Everybody else can go to hell.

But above all, I’d do everything it takes to protect him, to keep him by my side. I’m willing to lie, to steal, to threaten, to kill. I would sacrifice myself in a heartbeat. That probably is a bad pun. ‘Die in a heartbeat’. Would he laugh or scold me for it?

The point is, I’m not a good man. I would break every law and commit murder before losing him. And yet he chose to look at me as his moral compass. Which makes us both lost causes, I presume.

It’s probably equally bad that it doesn’t bother me. And people think of me as one of the good guys.

I make an amused noise and he raises his head from the paper.

“Please stop all that thinking. It’s distracting. We’ve been over this. Who cares what people think? We don’t need their trivial opinions. I care what you think and you care what I think. Although now that I say it out loud, it sounds...”

“Not good?” I mirror his usual question.

He smiles.

“A bit.”




Next 221b: Tea time


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AN:
Today's prompt - courtesy of Mr Merrick again- was 'good'.
Title stolen from Doctor Who.

I need to stop posting these in the middle of the night...








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Comments

[treelight.livejournal.com]

Oh, but he IS a good man!
Lovely piece!
And I don't care at what time you post such treasures as long as you keep posting them (although I do check for the newest one several times a day).

[anarion.livejournal.com]

To be honest, I don't see him as a good man. He IS good for Sherlock, but he is more or less equally damaged. But yeah, he still has a few more every day moral values than Sherlock. ;)

[bradspyjamas.livejournal.com]

He's good for Sherlock, therefore he's a good man.
I really like this one - definitely in my top ten of these fics. You've really captured the essence of John.

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much! Top ten! :D

[verityburns.livejournal.com]

Ooh, this is powerful stuff! I like this one. It's strong.

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Thank you, sweetie! <3

[chocolamousse.livejournal.com]

Would he laugh or scold me for it?
Scold? Wait. I thought it was Sherlock speaking from the beginning but I can't picture him scolding Sherlock for a bad pun, so...

And yet he chose to look at me as his moral compass.
So it's John! Well done!

Which makes us both lost cases, I presume.
I'm sure Sherlock would be delighted to be called a case! :D "But not a lost one, John. I always win."

“Not good?” I mirror his usual question.
Brilliant use of the quote.

Oh, there are new tags too. Yes, it's "kinda dark", but the good kind of dark. (If it makes any sense.) And it's a very good insight into John's mind, who is Sherlock's lover before being a good man. I love how you write his inner voice, it seems calm and quiet but you make us sense so much intensity, strength and maybe danger behind.

P.S. Yeah, I know you don't do crossovers, I made this mistake JUST ONCE, okay? No need to remind me of that every time! :D

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Ha! One reader confused about who is talking? Check.

I love how you write his inner voice, it seems calm and quiet but you make us sense so much intensity, strength and maybe danger behind.
Thank you so much!

You weren't the only one thinking it was a crossover. And now that I have the tag, I might as well use it. :P

[ledasdaughter.livejournal.com]

love this one <3

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *hugs*

How are you? We need to talk again sometime soon! :D

[ledasdaughter.livejournal.com]

I'm ... weird. haha. no, seriously, things are weird. I'm trying to get work done, and everyone is away on holidays and it's just strange XD are you coming to London in November? xx

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Is the screening happening? When is it?

[ledasdaughter.livejournal.com]

It's on November 17 and we got the okay :-)

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Great! I'll see you then! :D

[atlinmerrick.livejournal.com]

I agree with Verity: This is *powerful.*

"And yet he chose to look at me as his moral compass." I don't know why that line gets me, but it does.

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much, darling!

This was one of those that just flowed out of me.

[arianedevere.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that's clever. I do love me a good twist. (You might have noticed ...)

I love stories where the roles are reversed and we realise that John can be just as 'bad' as Sherlock. Gorgeous.

At this rate, you need to take on Mr Merrick as full-time prompt suggester. He's definitely been hanging around Atlin for too long and is just as much a corrupting influence as she is. Long may it continue!

[anarion.livejournal.com]

For some reason I heard you comment in Sherlock's voice (probably because of the 'Ooh, that's clever' [is it clever? why is it clever?] part).
It was nice. ;)

[auntiesuze.livejournal.com]

I think it's very much part of John's character that he would muse over these things. Though he's being ridiculous. "Good" doesn't equal "perfect" or whatever other ideal he's got in his head. John is very much a Good Man (and so is Sherlock, though he would never admit it XD).

[anarion.livejournal.com]

To be honest, I don't think John is a 'good' man. True, he has more everyday moral values than Sherlock, but just think about the scene where he shoots the cabbie and smiles afterwards. He has a very dark side, me thinks.

[tracionn.livejournal.com]

Fave Fave Fave!!
It's wonderful and deeply moving. I loved so very much.

[anarion.livejournal.com]

Yay! Thank you so much!

Oh and I haven't forgotten the pdf thing, but it's a lot of work. :\

[tracionn.livejournal.com]

Oh, plz don't worry about the pdf file!!! You're giving us so much delight every day and I can imagine how much work that us already.
The pdf can also wait until this project is finished and then ALL your delights will be included :)
^-^

[rox712.livejournal.com]

Back from Dresden and Die Ärzte and lots of things to comment to.

I tend to forget how strong, determined and dangerous John is. Love how you remind it to me.

(I'll be at the screening too :-))

[anarion.livejournal.com]

*squee* You and me (ok, and others...) in LONDON! :D

[rox712.livejournal.com]

YES! I can't tell you how excited I am!

[purrculier1.livejournal.com]

"I do what I want to protect those few I love. Everybody else can go to hell." Shivery and goosebumpy and ecstatically happy with that line.(oh god,yes)

I love your fluff, sweat and grab ice trays at your porn, have been known to have allergy attacks(*sniffle*)with your hurt/comfort,and lost more than one fingernail when you do cliffhangers,'cause yes,
you're just that good.(yup)

But, dear GOD woman, when you go to the dark side, when you drop these *Dark* little character introspectives on us. Well, my jaw is usually on the floor(give it back kitty that's not a toy.)and I need a minute of stunned silence.(and you have no idea what it takes to make me unable to talk.)

Your talent is shining like the last star in the heavens and I do so Thank You for lending us this light.

edit; 'cause whoa!

[antesqueluz.livejournal.com]

Twist! You are the master of it. Realizing the speaker isn't who you thought is such a lovely surprise and you manage it beautifully so very often in these brief stories...amazing!